Ukiyo-Tone (浮世トーン)

Ukiyo-Tone is a restrained, culturally grounded coding theme designed as a personal instrument — calm, sharp, and built for long hours of focused work.

Ukiyo-Tone is a visual instrument for thinking in code, inspired by 17th-century Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints and Sumi-e ink traditions. It is not designed for novelty or mass appeal, but as a deliberately constrained environment that disappears once deep focus begins.

The goal is not excitement; the goal is clarity with character.

The Theme Bundle

This extension includes six distinct themes, each inspired by specific elements of the Edo period aesthetic:

1. Asahi (旭 - Morning Sun)

Light Theme. Inspired by fresh Washi paper and early morning light.

• Core concept: High readability, organic paper feel.

2. Karesansui (枯山水 - Dry Landscape)

Zen Garden Theme. Inspired by moss, stone, and raked sand.

• Core concept: Muted moss tones with bamboo yellow accents for a peaceful focus.

3. Tasogare (黄昏 - Twilight)

Soft Dark Theme. Inspired by evening landscapes and faded indigo dyes.

• Core concept: Low eye strain, muted atmospheric tones.

4. Koke-Dera (苔寺 - Moss Temple)

Monotone Dark Theme. Inspired by deep forest shadows and moss gardens.

• Core concept: Deep forest green background with a loose monotone green palette for immersion.

5. Kuro-Sumi (黒墨 - Black Ink)

Deep Dark Theme. Inspired by charcoal ink drawings and midnight shadows.

• Core concept: Dramatic contrast, vivid highlights.

6. Kachi-iro (勝ち色 - Victory Color)

High Contrast Dark Theme. Inspired by the "lucky" deepest navy indigo worn by Samurai.

• Core concept: Accessibility and sharp focus.

Core Philosophy

Ukiyo-Tone is built on four central pillars defined in our Philosophy & Brand Identity:

• Restraint Over Abundance: We reject excess. Every visual choice must justify itself through readability, hierarchy, or focus. No unnecessary colors or ornamental contrast.
• Structure Before Decoration: Color is treated as syntax, not paint. Keywords define grammar, functions express motion, and variables carry weight.
• Organic, Not Mechanical: Inspired by woodblock prints, slight softness is intentional. Visual breathing room is respected, ensuring the interface feels worked by hand.
• Long-Session Ergonomics: Designed for endurance. If a choice improves a screenshot but harms long-term focus, it is rejected.

Visual Translation

We use Japanese visual culture as a system of constraints to guide the developer experience:

• Sumi-e Syntax: Comments are italicized to mimic hand-written calligraphy, while Classes and Constants are bolded to provide structural "outlines" similar to woodblock frame lines.
• Hanko Selection: The selection color is inspired by the red ink of a hanko (artist's signature stamp), providing a clear but culturally grounded focal point.
• Calm, Sharp, Neutral: The emotional tone is intentional—reducing fatigue and preserving precision without emotional noise or gimmicks.

Usage

Installation

1. Open the Extensions sidebar in VS Code.
2. Search for Ukiyo-Tone.
3. Click Install.

Recommended Settings

To fully embrace the Ukiyo-Tone philosophy of restraint and focus, we recommend the following editor settings to reduce visual noise:

{
  "editor.renderLineHighlight": "gutter",
  "editor.occurrencesHighlight": false,
  "editor.minimap.enabled": false,
  "breadcrumbs.enabled": false,
  "editor.guides.indentation": false,
  "editor.guides.bracketPairs": "active"
}

Fonts

This theme pairs exceptionally well with typefaces that balance geometric precision with organic curves.

• Primary Recommendation: Iosevka (Custom build or standard) — Its slender, precise feel matches the "sharp" and "ink" aesthetic.
• Alternative: JetBrains Mono — Excellent for the "high readability" goal of the Asahi theme.

Authors

Mohit Sharma (@mohitSharma74)

Tags

vs-code-theme japan ukiyo-e minimal dark-theme light-theme focus

License

MIT